Krauthammer: With immigration, try enforcement first

9:01 AM,
Feb. 1, 2013

A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle cruises between the long primary and secondary fence line in San Diego in 2007. The area was the site of increasing violence against the Border Patrol, and the fence has curbed the attacks.

Written by

Charles Krauthammer

Charles Krauthammer is a columnist for the Washington Post. He can be reached at letters@charleskrauthammer.com.

Immigration reform is coming. Let's get it right. What counts as getting it wrong? The 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli Act, signed by President Reagan. It granted amnesty to the then 3 million illegal immigrants and promised border enforcement. Amnesty came. Enforcement never did. Reagan was swindled.

Americans are a generous people. They don't want 11 million souls living in fear among them. They would willingly, indeed overwhelmingly, support amnesty - as long as it is the last. ...